'Desperate bid' to revive political fortunes: BJP on Thackeray joint rally

BJP leaders in Maharashtra on Saturday said Uddhav and Raj Thackerays joint rally in Mumbai was a desperate attempt to revive their political fortunes and recover lost ground ahead of civic polls adding the event was more like a family reunion reported PTIUddhav and Raj on Saturday shared the public stage and hosted a victory gathering titled Awaj Marathicha in Mumbais Worli to celebrate the rollback of two Government Resolutions GRs issued earlier by the Devendra Fadnavisled dispensation introducing Hindi as a third language from Class 1 in state schoolsDuring the rally Uddhav who heads the Shiv Sena UBT said he and his cousin Raj the president of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS have come together to stay united and hinted at contesting the upcoming civic elections togetherRaj took aim at Chief Minister Fadnavis saying he managed to do what Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and others could not by bringing the two cousins togetherState minister Ashish Shelar and BJP MLC Pravin Darekar targeted the Thackeray cousins over the eventShelar described the Worli event as a desperate attempt by the Sena UBT to recover its lost political groundThis was not a rally for the love of language but public appeasement of a brother once thrown out of the house They remembered their brotherhood due to the fear of BJPs strength in the civic polls he said reported PTIThe Thackerays were trying to reclaim control over the BMC in order to resume their misrule in the city he addedThe event was more of a family reunion than a protest over language issue Shelar said adding Uddhav Thackerays handshake with Raj Thackeray was only meant to salvage the political ground they have already lostRevenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule accused Uddhav Thackeray of duplicity in his stand on the Marathi languageUnder the guise of championing Marathi Uddhav Thackeray today lamented the loss of power in Worli But he has not explained why as chief minister in 2022 he accepted a report recommending compulsory Hindi from Class 1 Bawankule said in his post on XThe senior BJP leader claimed the former CMs real agenda was not M for Marathi but M for Municipal CorporationWhen in power in Mumbai he sidelined Marathispeaking people Now he is putting up a show of love for Marathi just to regain power His love for Marathi is political drama that surfaces only when elections approach People have now seen through this duplicity he assertedDarekar claimed the rally was driven by clear political intentRaj Thackeray spoke mainly on the Marathi language issue and defended himself against earlier allegations but Uddhav Thackerays tone was that of helplessness His regret over losing power was evident he said reported PTIHe asserted that Marathi people had already shown their support to the BJPled Mahayuti alliance in the November 2024 state assembly electionsDid Pakistanis vote for usIt was the Marathi voters who gave the Mahayuti a massive mandate In Mumbai too BJP Shiv Sena and NCPs Sana Malik won with the support of Marathi people he said reported PTIThere was confusion on stage about party flags and special invites which proved it was not a cultural event but a calculated political programme he addedAsked about the remarks against CM Fadnavis Darekar said similar statements were earlier made by NCP SP and they were possibly influenced by Sharad Pawars proximity to Uddhav ThackerayStill the fact that Uddhav is attacking Fadnavis shows the latters popularity People throw stones at those trees that bear fruit the BJP legislator opined reported PTIResponding to Raj Thackerays remark that Devendra Fadnavis achieved what Balasaheb Thackeray could not Darekar said it should be taken positively reported PTIHe sought to know how many Marathi builders benefited when the Thackerays were in powerDarekar also highlighted the BJPs efforts to promote Marathi languageIt was Fadnavis who constantly followed up with the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi who granted the status of classical language to Marathi It should not be forgotten he saidOn Uddhavs allegation that BJP discards its allies after using them Darekar countered saying it was the Sena UBT chief himself who abandoned his own leadersWe allowed the undivided Shiv Sena to have its mayor in BMC despite the BJP being just a few seats short But it was Uddhav Thackeray who exercised useandthrow policy with Sena leaders like Narayan Rane Chhagan Bhujbal Ramdas Kadam Ganesh Naik and even Raj Thackeray he said reported PTICommenting on Uddhavs newfound partnership with Raj the BJP MLC said it was driven purely by political needsHe never gave Raj importance in the party But now in order to save his own position he is trying to bring him back he saidWhile acknowledging the right to protest Darekar warned that such movements must not lead to divisionUnder the garb of protest if there is an attempt to create division based on language caste or religion it should be avoided he said reported PTIOn Friday state minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane had dubbed the joint rally as a jihadi and antiHindu gathering aimed at dividing society and weakening the stateSenior BJP leader and former minister Sudhir Mungantiwar however struck a conciliatory noteIf Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray are coming together its a good thing They have our best wishes The two brothers should unite and stay united If necessary both parties should even consider merging he said reported PTIWith inputs from PTI